NAD E-Newsletter: Act Now to Protect Schools for the Deaf

Posted in: Inside TAD, TAD Announcements by TAD Administration on February 24, 2011 | 0 Comments

 

 

 

NAD E-Newsletter
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Act Now to Protect Schools for the Deaf

 

Greetings. Schools for the deaf across the nation are facing a severe crisis and
we need you to act now. Some are under threat of closure, some face drastic
budget cuts that would underfund the school, and others face challenges to
promoting an environment where education and interaction is provided visually,
in American Sign Language.

 

State governments are increasingly looking at sending deaf children to
mainstream schools as ways to “cut costs”. This decision will have the opposite
effect, increasing costs, and have damaging consequences for deaf and hard of
hearing children.

 

Read More…
http://www.nad.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=18249&qid=1258636?

 

NAD Action Alert: Preserve State Schools for the Deaf

 

The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) is alarmed by a growing trend among
some state governments seeking to cut costs by underfunding or closing state
schools for the deaf across the country. These proposals by state government
officials and legislators are often based on the following factors:

 

1. drastically underestimating the financial costs of sending students to
mainstream schools;
2. lack of understanding of deaf and hard of hearing students’ needs;
3. lack of understanding about required support services and resources for deaf
and hard of hearing students such as teachers for the deaf and qualified
interpreters;
4. lack of understanding of the availability of such resources and support
services for deaf and hard of hearing students at their local school district.

 

Read More…
http://www.nad.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=18250&qid=1258636?

 

Awareness of ASL Grows at 2011 EHDI Conference

 

The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) participated in the 10th annual Early
Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Conference, February 20-22, 2011 in
Atlanta, Georgia. NAD representatives had productive conversations with various
stakeholders of early intervention programs from all over the country, including
local and federal EHDI professionals, educators, advocates, audiologists and
parents about the benefits of American Sign Language (ASL). Debra Patkin, staff
attorney at the NAD, and Roberta Mather Brown, volunteer advocate and parent of
deaf children, took part in workshops and provided their insights to attendees
on behalf of the NAD.

 

Howard Rosenblum, the next NAD Chief Executive Officer starting on April 1,
2011, was the conference’s second plenary speaker.  His presentation, “It’s All
About Expectations!”, shared success stories of deaf and hard of hearing
individuals and the formula behind their achievements. “We need to raise
expectations, and instill expectations in deaf and hard of hearing children to
dream of becoming of something,” said Rosenblum. His remarks garnered countless
chuckles and rounds of applause from the audience.

 

Read More…
http://www.nad.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=18255&qid=1258636?

 

NAD Praises California Dept. of Ed Video on ASL

 

The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) salutes the video Through Your
Child’s Eyes: American Sign Language which presents a comprehensive portrayal of
the needs of deaf and hard of hearing children and the value of American Sign
Language (ASL).  The video, posted earlier this month, reflects the
organizational vision for the future as outlined in NAD Vision 2020 Strategic
Plan:

 

“We believe it is the right of every deaf and hard of hearing person to acquire
and express themselves in American Sign Language and English.”

 

The video stresses the benefits of teaching deaf and hard of hearing babies and
children ASL while showing positive support and perspectives from both deaf and
hearing parents.

 

Read More…
http://www.nad.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=18251&qid=1258636?

 

NAD Commends CBS for CSI Episode: “The Two Mrs. Grissoms”

 

The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) commends the broadcaster CBS and the
television series Crime Scene Investigation: CSI and for featuring deaf and hard
of hearing community members as empowered human beings and portraying our
language, American Sign Language (ASL), in a positive light. The episode, "The
Two Mrs. Grissoms," which aired on February 3, 2011 featured Marlee Matlin,
Phyllis Frelich, Anthony Natale, Ty Giordano and a number of deaf and hard of
hearing extras.

 

Read More…
http://www.nad.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=18252&qid=1258636?